Brake-beam.



Patented Jan. l4, I902.

No. 69l,095.

J. v H. BAKER. BRAKE. BEAM.

(Ap xlication filed Aug. 17, 1901.)

(No Model.)

UNITED firnrns nrnnr rrrcn.

JAMES H. BAKER, OF ALLEGHENY, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO JAS. H. BAKER MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF PITTSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA.

BRAKE-BEAM.

\ SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 691,095, dated January 14, 1902.

Application filed August 1'7, 1901. Serial No. 72,346. (No model.)

T ctZZ whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES H. BAKER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Allegheny, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented or discovered certain new and useful Improvements in Brake-Beams, of which improvements the following is a specification.

The invention described herein relates to certain improvements in truss brake-beams,

and has for its object a construction and combination of parts whereby the ends of the tension portion or member may be secured to the compression member without any weakening I 5 of the latter; and it is a further object of the invention to so construct and combine the parts of a truss-beam that the several parts thereof will be held together by the tightening of the nuts on the tension member, thereby avoiding the employment of rivets or bolts.

The invention is hereinafter more fully described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of my specification, Figure 1 is a side elevation of a brake-beam embodying my improvements. Fig. 2 is a similar view illustrating a modification of my improvement. Figs. 3 and 4 show the lever end of the beam in section and elevation, respectively. Fig. 5

0 is a sectional view through the strut, illustrating a modification of my improvement; and Fig. 6 is an end elevation of the beam shown in Fig. 2.

It has heretofore been customary to employ a single rod as the tension member of a truss brake-beam; but such construction is objectionable, as the ends of the tension member cannot be secured to the compression member without passing through the latter or withouta multiplication of parts. Both methods are objectionable, the first as the compression member is weakened and the second as the labor and expense of manufacture and maintenance are greatly increased. It

5 has been attempted to form the tension member of two rods; but as in the forms employed the strains on the rods could not be equalized both rods were made of sufficient size to take the entire strain, thereby increasing the weight and'expense of the beam to an unde- 5o sirable degree.

In the practice of my inventionl employ a tension member having at least the end portions formed in two parts or sections adapted to extendalong opposite sides of the end por- .55 tions of the compression member and be secured to or bear upon anchor-plates which in turn will bear against the end of the compression member. In connection with such divided tension member I employ a suitable construction whereby the strains on the two parts are equalized, thereby rendering it possible to so reduce the transverse dimensions of the two parts that their tensional strength Will be approximately equal to one-half of the tensional strength required in the truss.

As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the compression member may be formed by a tube or a structural shape, as an I-beam. The tension member may be formed by two rods 2, connected to each other at one end by a portion 2, which in the construction shown in Fig. 2 is formed integral with the two parts or legs of the tension member. The bearingplates 3 and 4, through which the strain of the tension member is transmitted to the compression member, are preferably formed integral with the socket 6, formed on the brake-shoe head 7 for the reception of the ends of the compression member. In the construction shown in Fig. 1 the bearingplate 3 is provided with laterally-projecting ears or lugs 5, through which one end of the parts of the tension member is passed, the outer faces of these lugs or cars being made at an angle, so that the tightening-nuts will have a good bearing thereon. The opposite end of the parts or legs of the tension member is passed through the ends of a lever 10, which has a pivotal bearing on the bearingplate 4. By means of this lever an undue strain applied to one of the parts or legs of the tension member will be transmitted in part to the other leg, so as to bring an equal strain upon both. The bearing-plate sis pro 5 vided with wings 8, projecting on opposite sides of the lever, as clearly shown in Figs.

2, 3, and 4 to hold the same in position.

As shown in Figs. 2 and 6, the tension member may have its parts or legs formed integral with each other or connected by a loop 2. When using such form of tension member, the bearing-plate carried by the brake-shoe head is provided with a saddle portion 9, curved to an arc of a circle whose radius should be greater than the diameter of the portion 2*.

It is preferred to connect the free ends of the tension member to a lever, as described in connection with Fig. 1, so as to equalize the strains on the tension member.

Where the ends of the tension member are so secured to the compression member as to permit of no equalization at such ends, an equalization of strains may be effected by supporting the middle portions of the tension member on a lever 12, pivot/ally supported on the outer end of the strut 13, which may be 4 of any suitable construction. It is preferred,

however, to so construct the strut as to render it capable of extension, as shown in Fig.

5. In such case the upper end of the strut is made in the form of a sleeve 14 for the reception of a pin 15, on which the lever bears. This pin can be forced out by a wedge 17, driven in between the pin and the body of the strut.

It is characteristic of the construction shown and described that the brake shoe heads are held in position upon the compression member by the tension member and that no rivets or bolts are necessary except those used for fastening the strut in position.

WVhile I have shown and described several forms or embodiments of my improvement, other forms or constructions thereof will readily suggest themselves to those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of my invention. Hence as regards the broad terms of the claims I do not limit myself to the particular forms or constructions shown and described.

It is further characteristic of my improvementthat the tension member is so constructed that at least those portions adjacent to the 7 from one part of the tension member to another part thereof, thereby equalizing strains between different parts of the tension member, substantially as set forth.

2. A brake-beam having in combination a compression member, a strut, a tension member formed in two parts passing on opposite sides of the compression member, anchorplates interposed between the tension and compression members, and means for transmitting the strains from one portion of the tension member to the portion passing on'the opposite side of the compression member, substantially as set forth. I

3. A brake-beam having in combination a compression member, brake-shoe heads carried by the compression member, a strut,a tension member having theportions adjacent to the ends of the compression member divided and extending on opposite sides of the compression member, anchor plates interposed between the tension and compression members, and serving to hold the brake-shoe heads as against movement off the compression member, and means for transmitting strains from one portion of the tension member to the other, substantially as set forth.

4. A brake-beam having in combination a compression member, a strut, a tension member having the portions adjacent to the ends of the compression member divided, and extending along opposite sides of the compression member, brake-shoe heads carried by the compression member, anchor-plates formed integral with the brake-shoe heads and interposed between the tension and compression members, and means for transmitting strains from one portion of the tension member to another portion thereof, substantially as set forth.

5. A brake-beam having in combination a compression member, a tension member consisting of two rods having their ends extending on opposite sides of the compression member, anchor-plates interposed between the tension and compression members, a lever having its bearing against the anchor-plate at one end of the compression member, and connected to one end of the rods forming the tension member, the other ends of said rods being connected to the anchor-plate at the opposite end of the compression member, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

JAMES H. BAKER.

Witnesses:

DARWIN S. WoLcoTT, F. E. GAITHER.

IIO 

